I’m thrilled to share the incredible success of our National Passenger Safety Week Campaign that took place during the last week of January! We welcomed over 4,790 visitors to our website, and our coalition partners actively promoted NPSW across social media, linking their sites to ours.

We also had fantastic participation and media coverage from law enforcement and state agencies, including the Alabama Law Enforcement and California Highway Patrol. State Highway Safety Offices in Illinois, Iowa, Texas, West Virginia, South Carolina, and more contributed to the media coverage.

I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished, thanks to the support of the National Road Safety Foundation and the Governors Highway Safety Association.

This initiative sparked during COVID when I temporarily gave up my car and became a passenger. I learned the importance of setting ground rules before getting into a car. With my background, I was comfortable asserting my boundaries. However, when I resumed lecturing at Columbia University, I realized how many bright young people didn’t know how to respond when faced with a dangerous driver. That’s when the idea for an annual campaign to educate and empower passengers took shape. This passion drives me, and I’m grateful to all who share my belief that passengers have a right to live! If you value your safety, speak up!

I’m equally proud of our new campaign, Not an Accident and our new bill, SB 1071, sponsored by We Save Lives and the Riverside County District Attorney’s office.

Let me be clear: my daughter Cari’s death was not an accident. It was a homicide, and that’s how her death certificate should be recorded, under Manner of Death. This is just one more problem I’m committed to solving.

I invite you to join us—share our social media posts and sign the petition!

To my friends and followers in California, particularly those affected by motor vehicle crashes and drug poisonings, your support is crucial. Please send your support letters for this bill to the Health Committee. We have instructions and sample letters available on our website to assist you.    

Because I care . . .

Candace Lightner, Founder and President

We Save Lives

We Save Lives is thrilled to unveil our new website for the Not an Accident campaign! 🚀

With 32 organizations rallying behind our cause and over 500 supporters already signing our petition, we are gaining momentum like never before! Sign the petition here!

But the real excitement lies in our legislative progress: our bill, SB 1071, has been introduced by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, with an impressive 19 bipartisan co-authors standing together in support of truth and accountability. This collective effort is a powerful testament to our commitment to making a difference!

We Save Lives is excited to announce that we now have a website for our Not an Accident campaign. We now have 32 organizations who have joined our cause and more than 500 people have signed our petition.

But what is most exciting is that our bill SB1701 has been introduced by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh. She is joined by 19 bipartisan co authors who believe in truth and accountability by supporting this bill.

What does SB 1071 do?

Senate Bill SB 1071 would provide a legal mechanism to amend the manner of death on a death certificate after a court judgment to ensure that the manner of death is not classified as an accident when there is a legal finding of homicide.

Why the change?

Under current law, only next of kin may request an amendment to the cause of death if the request is accompanied by a physician’s certification.2

Next of kin may also request an amendment to correct typographical errors to personal information on a death certificate.

However, existing law does not provide a path for next of kin to amend the manner of death.

How will this bill solve the problem?

SB 1071 would allow a victim’s next of kin to request an amendment to a loved one’s death certificate to ensure that it reflects the legal finding of the manner of death.

The bill does not attempt to change a physician’s or pathologist’s autopsy protocol or a coroner’s report, but rather to provide an official record that reflects a court’s legal determination.

This change in the law will provide better statistics and data to inform public health, criminal justice, research, and policy systems at multiple levels.

Drunk and impaired driving deaths are up in California, and death certificates should accurately categorize these deaths as homicides, not accidents.

Join us in pushing for change and be part of this vital movement!

Safety Tip of the Month 🚗

■■ Stat Check: Between 2019 and 2023, almost 38 percent of all traffic deaths during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday involved a person driving drunk, resulting in 284 preventable deaths.

Prevent Fatalities!!!

STOP Underrides National Town Hall. Join a national organizing effort for crash victims and supporters rallying to support The STOP Underrides 2.0 Act of 2026 in Congress. This virtual Town Hall will allow citizens from across the country to share their stories and take collective action together. Join us.

📅 April 15 | 🕖 8 – 9 pm ET | RSVP HERE 

■■ Upcoming Event: Spring Break!

March – April DUI arrests and alcohol-related traffic fatalities spike during spring break particularly in coastal areas and college towns, due to increased alcohol consumption among young adults. A 2022 Texas survey showed a 42% increase in DUI-related fatalities. Make memories, not fatal mistakes, by planning ahead for a safe way home if you drink, and having the Courage to Intervene if you see someone about to make an unsafe driving decision.

■■ Policy Update: Street Racing & Aggressive Driving: Enhanced, stricter penalties for street racing and exhibition driving, with fines often reaching $2,000 to $2,500.

Partner Spotlight

#PartnersforSafety

The National Police Organization (NPA)

The NPA is dedicated to supporting law enforcement agencies and officers while advocating for public safety and constitutional rights. Their key missions include:

• Policy Advocacy: The NPA mobilizes a Call to Action team to keep supporters informed about pending crime-fighting legislation and how to engage with lawmakers.
• Legal Support: They defend law enforcement in court, filing lawsuits and reviewing cases that could negatively impact public safety, stepping in as a friend of the court when necessary.
• Community Support: The NPA provides essential tools for local law enforcement, including legal backing, public education campaigns, and #SupportThePolice initiatives through billboards, PSAs, and community outreach.
• Petition Advocacy: They encourage community involvement by promoting petitions that support Quality of Life policing, aiming to influence local governments.
• Educational Resources: The NPA offers a free homeschool elective course, “Defending Law Enforcement & Restoring Criminal Justice,” and provides access to “The Ten Code: 10 Law Enforcement Principles for Victory in Life” as a free audiobook and eBook. Their podcast features insights from law enforcement experts, available on various platforms.

Together, we work towards a safer society and empower those who protect it!

If you would like to become a We Save Lives Partner please contact us http://bit.ly/3KuNGYC

■ Share this newsletter with 3 friends to help spread the message.

■ Sign the Not an Accident Petition Write letters to the Health Committee to support this legislation. Instructions here.

Celebration of Life 🪽

On March 13, 2023, Cassandra Kay Linder, a 16-year-old, tragically lost her life due to the actions of a distracted and fatigued commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver. On the first day of spring break, she was returning home after receiving hand-me-down clothes from her older sister, who lived in Garden City, Kansas.

As she was driving home on a clear, beautiful day, the CMV driver missed a curve entirely. Cassandra noticed the impending crash and attempted to avoid it, but she was struck at a speed of 55 MPH. The impact resulted in severe injuries, breaking both her legs and her arm, and severing her liver. Fortunately, her seatbelt saved her life from the initial impact. Although she did not sustain a broken neck or back or suffer a life-threatening head injury, the mangling of her vehicle delayed rescue efforts. It took 40 minutes to extract her from the wreckage, during which time she bled to death from her injuries.

The CMV driver sustained only minor injuries and was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. According to his report, he had been on his phone and reached down to pick up a fallen bottle of water. The CMV was equipped with an onboard camera that recorded the entire incident, featuring a forward-facing view but lacking a driver-facing camera.

Further investigation revealed that the driver had an active TikTok account filled with videos of himself driving while holding his phone—both at night and during the day, including instances of cars passing by and driving in snowy conditions. These videos demonstrated a reckless disregard for the safety of others. It begs the question: Do you really believe this was an accident?